Nine Track Athletes Qualify for NCAA Preliminaries

North Texas Will Take Nine to Austin for West Prelims

INDIANAPOLIS--Nine North Texas athletes have qualified for the NCAA Outdoor West Preliminaries. The West Prelims will be held in Austin May 28-30.

On the women's side, junior Mona Landry qualified in both long jump and the women's 100-meter dash. This is Landry's second time to compete at West Outdoor Prelims. Last year, Landry competed in long jump. Sophomore Jazmine Martin will also compete in the women's triple jump. This is Martin's first time to compete at NCAA West Prelims.

Senior Shahaf Bareni is a seasoned NCAA athlete. This will be Bareni's third time to go to NCAA West Prelims for high jump. In 2012, Bareni placed within the top 25 at the West Prelims, and in 2013, Bareni placed seventh, qualifying her for championships. At the 2013 NCAA Championships, she placed seventh in high jump and set the school record for the women's high jump at 1.83 meters.

On the men's side, junior Troy Taylor qualified for the 1500-meter run. After placing third at the C-USA Cross Country Championships this fall, Taylor went on to compete in the 2014 NCAA South Central Regionals, where he placed ninth and moved on to NCAA Nationals. Taylor owns three of the top five all-time performances in the 1500-meter at North Texas. He also competed in the 1500-meter at the NCAA West Prelims in 2014.

Sophomore Collin Heard will be returning to the NCAA West Prelims as well. He competed in the 2014 West Prelims in both the 200-meter dash and on the 4X400 meter relay team. This year he has qualified again in both events, along with other 4X400 meter relay team members Connor Bey, Caleb Pryor, Jamal Marshall and alternate Kedron Sowells.

For the last three years, North Texas has sent at least one athlete to NCAA Nationals. This year, nine of the Mean Green will compete at NCAA West Preliminaries for the chance to qualify for the 2015 Outdoor National Championships, which will be held June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.